Salvation Army offers holiday aid

DeKALB – Applications are open for the DeKalb County Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance programs.

Both programs are available to low-income DeKalb County residents and provide food and gifts for the holiday season. Those interested in applying need to provide photo identification of one adult in the household, proof of household income or a current medical card and proof of residency such as a utility bill or lease.

The Christmas program also requires proof of each child with the date of birth. Residents can go to the Salvation Army on 830 Grove St. in DeKalb to apply.

Michael Cho, a corps officer and pastor with the organization, said both programs have a high demand in the area. He said the group gave out 800 food baskets last year in the Thanksgiving program and served more than 2,200 children with the Christmas program.

The Thanksgiving community program provides food baskets containing turkey, vegetables, potatoes and other holiday staples with the amount of food determined by the size of each family. The Christmas program provides toys to children and is a joint effort with Toys-for-Tots.

Cho said all community support is welcomed for both programs and residents can make food donations at the Salvation Army. He also said people would start to see drop-boxes at stores, such as Walmart, where they can donate a toy for the Christmas program.

Applications for both programs are accepted Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. The deadline for the Thanksgiving program is Nov. 15, and the deadline for the Christmas program is Dec. 13.

Residents will be given a time when they can come pick up their food basket Nov. 20.